До Адама
Chapter XI
Hegotintothehabitofwanderingoffinthedirectionofthetreewheremymotherlived.Hehadtakenalikingtomyvicioussister,andtheChattererhadcometotoleratehim.Also,therewereseveralotheryoungpeople,progenyofthemonogamiccouplesthatlivedintheneighborhood,andLop-Earplayedwiththeseyoungpeople.
IcouldnevergettheSwiftOnetojoinwiththem.WheneverIvisitedthemshedroppedbehindanddisappeared.Irememberoncemakingastrongefforttopersuadeher.Butshecastbackward,anxiousglances,thenretreated,callingtomefromatree.SoitwasthatIdidnotmakeapracticeofaccompanyingLop-Earwhenhewenttovisithisnewfriends.TheSwiftOneandIweregoodcomrades,but,tryasIwould,Icouldneverfindhertree-shelter.Undoubtedly,hadnothinghappened,wewouldhavesoonmated,forourlikingwasmutual;butthesomethingdidhappen.
Onemorning,theSwiftOnenothavingputinanappearance,Lop-EarandIweredownatthemouthofthesloughplayingonthelogs.Wehadscarcelygotoutonthewater,whenwewerestartledbyaroarofrage.ItwasRed-Eye.Hewascrouchingontheedgeofthetimberjamandgloweringhishatredatus.Wewerebadlyfrightened,forherewasnonarrow-mouthedcaveforrefuge.Butthetwentyfeetofwaterthatintervenedgaveustemporarysafety,andwepluckedupcourage.
Red-Eyestooduperectandbeganbeatinghishairychestwithhisfist.Ourtwologsweresidebyside,andwesatonthemandlaughedathim.Atfirstourlaughterwashalf-hearted,tingedwithfear,butaswebecameconvincedofhisimpotencewewaxeduproarious.
